Four killed in Iraq fuel protests

Security forces in Iraq shot dead four people protesting against a recent hike in fuel prices yesterday, police said, after rioters set cars and petrol stations on fire near the northern oil city of Kirkuk.

Iraq, which has the world's third biggest oil reserves, is grappling with its latest fuel crisis and price rises imposed by a deal with the International Monetary Fund; longer than usual queues have built up at petrol stations and many who voted in last month's peaceful election talk of disillusion.

In Baghdad, eight bombs exploded across the capital on New Year's morning, causing minor damage and only a handful of injuries; US commanders have been congratulating themselves of late on disrupting deadlier suicide car bomb attacks.

In Rahinawa, near Kirkuk, security forces opened fire on young men as they marched down a main street protesting a lack of basic amenities and the doubling and tripling of prices for vehicle fuel and household gas 13 days ago, police said.

At least four protesters were killed and two wounded, police Captain Salaam Zangana said. A curfew was imposed. Police said it was unclear whether US or Iraqi forces fired.